John VanOrsdell, 80, of Boothbay, now a resident of St. Andrews Village, invited family, friends and his publisher to the Village for the unveiling of his first science fiction novel, “Angelesis – A Divine Incarnation,” on October 16.

Published by iUniverse in conjunction with Coppola Productions in Norfolk, Va., “Angelesis” is a “fast-paced, one-of-a-kind, celestial tale of Divine Intervention in earthly affairs, amid exciting threats to the Panama Canal, the U.S. Space Shuttle, the gigantic, recently completed Three Gorges Dam, the economic heart of the new China, among others,” according to the book's publisher.

VanOrsdell, a former Madison Avenue, New York copy editor who retired to Boothbay many years ago, was joined at the unveiling by his wife of 57 years, Alys; their daughter, Lisa Amundson; John's childhood friend, Ed Kuljian; long-time Boothbay friends, Jill Tupper and Estelle Appel; Boothbay Town Manager Jim Chaousis; and publisher Emilio M. Coppola.

Coppola explained that he met VanOrsdell about a year and a half ago at a spiritual retreat and he told him that he would help get the book (which VanOrsdell said took him about 20 years to complete) published.

“Taking a leap of faith, I flew up here and he handed me the type-written manuscript. We ended my visit on a handshake deal,” Coppola said. “We cleaned up the copy and here it is.”

“Angelesis” is being listed on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble,com, and is being offered as an eBook (Kindle and Nook). It will be distributed at book stores and will soon have its own website, angelesis.net.

Jonne Trees, director of the local cable channel, Channel 7, filmed an interview with VanOrsdell about the book and Coppola said he hopes to have that video published on coppolaproductions.net and angelesis.net.

“This book was his passion,” said Alys VanOrsdell. “Despite his physical limitations (John suffers from Parkinson's disease) over the past few years, he continued working on it and working to get it published.”

Jill Tupper, widow of former U.S. Congressman and Boothbay Harbor native Stan Tupper, whom VanOrdell honors in the book, said she couldn't wait to read it.

“I'll be sending it off to (daughter) Lara to read first but I will tell her I want it back quickly,” said Tupper. Her daughter is also a published novelist.

VanOrsdell said he was pleased with the finished book and that perhaps a TV miniseries or a motion picture could be made of “Angelesis.”

“John is an idea man,” said Alys VanOrsdell. “If anyone can do it, he can.”